By Michael S. Hoey
Correspondent
The 2020 graduating class of Delavan-Darien High School will be remembered for a situation they had no control over and have lost many final events of their senior year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, including the traditional graduation ceremony.
The school district has done its best to honor the graduates with an individual diploma pick-up on May 21 that included a professional photograph by Empire Photography. The district will also release a virtual scholarship presentation on June 6 and a virtual graduation slideshow on June 7, the planned date of graduation. Some kind of graduation ceremony in the parking lot with social distancing may be held in July or August but that will be discussed at a future school board meeting.
A group of senior parents decided came up with a way to honor the graduates as well – with a 12-mile “Graduation Cruise” on Sunday, June 7 beginning at 11 a.m. The virtual graduation presentation will be released at about noon, making it possible to participate in the cruise and return home to view the presentation.
The cruise, a caravan of vehicles carrying the high school seniors, will move through the City of Delavan and Village of Darien with social distancing in place. Cars will line up from 10 to 10:45 a.m. at least six feet apart at the beginning of the cruise and no one will be permitted to leave their vehicle.
A licensed adult must drive the graduate and the graduates will not be allowed to be in the open beds of trucks or sitting on the back of convertibles because the cruise will move along a bit faster than typical parade speed. Graduates and their families are encouraged to decorate their vehicles and wear their caps and gowns or the school colors of blue and gold to show spirit.
The City of Delavan, the Village of Darien, and the Walworth County Sheriff Department are all supportive of the cruise. Fleet Farm is allowing the cruise to begin on the private road that leads into the area and in its parking lot if necessary, for staging.
Tommy Purcell, owner of Hunter’s Automotive, and George Greenwood, owner of Greenie’s, are collaborating to provide a drive-through meal to cruisers and their families at the conclusion of the cruise. WSLD will be broadcasting from 11 a.m. to noon by reading graduate names and playing music selections submitted by Class of 2020 parents.
Dousman Bus Company will place three decorated buses in the cruise and Rocky Feeney will take photographs along the route. Mayor Ryan Schroeder contacted local businesses and asked them to consider displaying congratulating messages to the Class of 2020. Other local businesses were considering other possible ways to join in on honoring the graduates.
The cruise will begin on Freedom Lane outside of Fleet Farm and will be escorted by the City of Delavan Police Department. School Resource Officer Brad Schroeder has been invited to be the lead escort.
The route will exit west and turn right onto Borg Road, then left on East Geneva Street. The route will follow Highway 50 until it turns left on Washington Street. It will then turn left on Beloit Street and right on Creek Road. It will follow Creek Road until turning left on Old 89, which becomes Wisconsin Street in the Village of Darien. The route will turn left on Highway X and follow X back to Delavan.
The route will then turn left on Wisconsin Street near the School Administration Center and turn right on Cummings Street where it will pass by the high school. A right turn on Highway 11 will bring the cruise through downtown and then it will proceed to Wright Street where it will turn right. One last right on Ann Street will take the cruise to its final destination, Hunter’s, for the drive-through meal.
The public is encouraged to watch the cruise while maintaining social distancing in public areas along the 12-mile route. The senior parent group discourages congregating in any one area, such as downtown.
Anyone interested can find more information or updates on the DDHS Class of 2020 Graduation Cruise Facebook page.
